There have also been suggestions the winning clubs earn the right to return the following year.

“I like the concept and if it wasn’t around a long-term strategy,then I would be fine with that,but this is a long-term strategy for us,” Penn said. “To do that we have to make investments.

“We do want to genuinely partner with NFL teams and take it to the next level,but if you’re only here for 12 months it can be hard to do that.”

Penn confirmed he held talks with San Francisco 49ers president Al Guido on the morning of the Las Vegas games about potentially buying a minority stake in the Sea Eagles,a result which could have huge ramifications for rugby league in America.

“He was very open to the idea and while we want to keep a majority stake in the club,we can always look at potential opportunities for minority investment,” Penn said.

More than 40,000 fans attended the Super Bowl venue for the season start,which the NRL considered a rousing success for the first competition games outside of Australia and New Zealand.

But Penn pointed to Formula 1 flooding the United States market with three races this year as a model the NRL should pursue.

“We have to get broadcast and our game in front of American eyeballs,” Penn said.

“That means if we can play two or three weekends a year and maybe in different cities,maybe that will increase our presence.

“Formula 1 didn’t have a race here until five years ago,and now they’ve got three. So,it’s really starting to capture the imagination. I definitely think that needs to be the short to medium-term strategy. This was an amazing start.

“But we need to think about coming back sooner rather than later.”

More reading

• Why Penrith’s punt at history has been helped by head office
• Why Stephen Crichton is the player Penrith will miss most
• ‘Needs to be a line in the sand’:Indigenous stars speak out on Leniu racism row

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